Persepolis is a bright light on how direct experience taught a young girl empathy and how it altered her perspective on life. Through Marji's direct experience of watching people in poverty, the reader learns the power of direct experiences. These direct experiences produce guilt, leading to change. Newfoundly, an open-minded way of thinking created an understanding of empathy in the reader and Marji.
Marji, the young protagonist, grows up in a prosperous family, and she finds herself wondering why her “maid [does not] eat with [her], [along with why her] father ha[s] a Cadillac (6).” Since many others in Iran do not have fancy cars or a maid, Marji notices the social pyramid through direct experience. Since Marji witnessed how her maid was treated, she forms a more empathetic response. Rather than just hearing about poverty, she saw it in her everyday life. She sees examples of poverty outside her home, including the time they went to the grocery store for food. Marji learns “[many] can [not] get anything to eat anymore (92).” Or the time her family got gas and, “there [is not] enough for everyone”(88) The war with Iraq versus Iran led to limited food and gas.
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Also, Inflation has caused the worth of money to go down, which raises the price of everything. Due to the inflation in Iran, many can not afford the necessary items. Throughout her upbringing, Marji views others directly in poverty and feels guilty about all she has, ultimately leading to an open-minded, new perspective on life. This new perspective allows Marji to experience empathy for herself. Leading to her being empathetic. Seeing something, versus hearing about it from someone else is much more powerful because you can interpret what happened. One can believe what one wants to